Lavender waxbills

[lovezebs]

isobea

I don't think I ever shared the cricket story, it was sort of embarrassing... involved a lot of screaming and jumping around, and some of it may have been me, but we won't go there .

The story I told, was about the fruitflies if I remember right.

For $ 75.00 a pair, I would take w.l. 's advice, and grab two pairs.

[w.l.]

isobea

Lavenders are said to get aggressive during breeding, and the mere presence of a second pair nearby is supposed to disturb a breeding pair.
So the surplus birds should go somewhere separate, even into a fair-sized cage.
Or be rehomed, if you really don't want to look after them separately.

As for newly imported birds, if they look frail, hands off them. But if they are healthy, I might prefer them to undernourished long-term captives. I have iften bought newly imported birds and very rarely lost any. However, I did select them myself.

[isobea]

w.l. - Just speculating right now. I'll have to make up my mind when I get there (hopefully next week).

lovezebs - Elana, I just checked the website of The Finch Farm (they are in Washington state - relatively speaking not too far from you). They have lavenders for $49 a piece. Don't know if they could ship into Canada, though. Just a thought.
Iso

[lovezebs]

isobea

They are willing to ship, but by the time you pay for the shipping, and then they have to be kept in Quarantine (not sure for how long, and at whose expence), etc. I honestly don't think I would come up any further ahead.

I've looked into their outfit before, and they keep e-mailing me every day, tempting me with all these great deals, but....

[w.l.]

lovezebs

Are you getting your pair?

[lovezebs]

w.l.

I'm still debating on it lol.

They are lovely....
But do I need more birds?

[w.l.]

Just rehome a pair of zebras or societies!
A great trade off for a pair of Lavenders.

[lovezebs]

w.l.

My crazy Zebbies and sweet Socies, have been with me for a long time, and I'm rather attached to them and their crazy ways. This is their home, and they're not going anywhere.

The Lavenders, (if they come ), would be in a flight with some Waxbills.....

Look at these faces, how could I rehome them???

[marymac]

lovezebs
They are adorable!!!! No way could I re home them either

[isobea]

Update: went up to Orange County this morning to buy a pair of shaft tails from a breeder and decided to continue on to Magnolia Bird Farm. Well, I did come home with a pair of lavenders. In these two birds there is a marked difference in the amount of black and red feathers under the tail. Let's hope they are a true pair. So far they are doing great and the male has even sounded the typical 'classic male' call a few times (thank you w.l. for the link!). Keep your fingers crossed for me.
Iso

[Jen]

isobea
Oh yea!!! Congrats on the new lavenders! Photos please!!!

[w.l.]

Great to hear you've bouggt them eventually!
And if they are fresh imports,the color difference should be more reliable.
I am pretty sure you will love them.

[isobea]

w.l. - What do you mean you are 'pretty sure'? You are not positive I will like them? I only bought them because in a different post you said they are your favorite waxbills - and I trusted your judgment
Seriously, I think they are really cool (as the kids would say). Can't wait to see them out in the aviary with room to fly and explore everything.
Iso

[w.l.]

I love them and so does everyone else I know who has them.
However I recall someone on this forum wrote she had got two incompatible birds that just wouldn't get along and eventually decided to return them. Or sg along those lines. Hence the "pretty" sure.
Also, when keeping them in a mixed aviary, watch for them disturbing others' nests.

Otherwise, the coolest finches ever.
Would even deserve an aviary of their own, if necessary!

[isobea]

Alright, I tried to take some pictures of them. Not the best quality but all I can do for now. Let's hope they are not too big. If everything goes well, #1 should show the male, #2 both birds and you can see the plucked area on the back of the female, #3 the female from the side.
So far both of them seem to be doing perfectly fine.
Iso